Molecular Medicine · 2012 · 94 citations · 42 references
Life SciencesImmunologyNephrologyKidney TransplantationSignal TransductionTransplant ImmunologyB Cell BiologyB Cell RegulationB-cell ResponsesImmunosuppression In Kidney TransplantationTransplant RejectionTransplant ToleranceB-cell ToleranceDifferentiationLong-term Graft FunctionMolecular Pathways Of ToleranceRegulatory B Cell FunctionRegulatory B Cell ResponsesTransplant Tolerance MechanismsTransplantation
Transplanted individuals in operational tolerance (OT) maintain long-term stable graft function after completely stopping immunosuppression. Understanding the mechanisms involved in OT can provide valuable information about pathways to human transplantation tolerance. Here we report that operationally tolerant individuals display quantitative and functional preservation of the B-cell compartment in renal transplantation. OT exhibited normal numbers of circulating total B cells, naive, memory and regulatory B cells (Bregs) as well as preserved B-cell receptor repertoire, similar to healthy individuals. In addition, OT also displayed conserved capacity to activate the cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in Bregs, in contrast, with chronic rejection. Rather than expansion or higher activation, we show that the preservation of the B-cell compartment favors OT.
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B cells regulate autoimmunity by provision of IL-10
Simon Fillatreau, Claire H. Sweenie, Mandy J. McGeachy et al. · Nature Immunology · 2002 · 1.6K citations